Dominican Training Camp and Emilio's story

How many campers would you put at a camp that has a capacity of 95? For most of us, that answer is pretty clearly 95 or less. But at our training camp for leaders in the Dominican Republic in March the answer was 157! It was our largest training camp ever and it meant people were sleeping in every available space-- on mattresses, sleeping pads, sleeping bags or whatever we could find. I ended up with a lovely space on our camp manager’s office floor. But it also meant a great deal of fun with a big group of potential leaders who were excited to learn and grow. The amazing thing about this is that well over half of that 157 are teenagers who accepted Christ in the last two years through Vida Joven and they’re now desiring to learn to share what they’ve come to know with their friends and classmates. This is the fruit of a lot of outreach and discipleship by our leaders in the Dominican Republic. They’ve really dedicated themselves to walking with these kids the last two years and helping them come to know Christ in a real and personal way. That dedication has translated into these teens wanting to do the same with others. I believe this will have a tremendous long term impact and is a key part of our mission in Latin America-- 

 “Our vision and mission is simple and clear: Through obedience to the Holy Spirit and with His power, we introduce young people to Jesus through real friendship and develop them to become transformed leaders for the Kingdom of God who are also transforming the lives of others, their communities, families, countries, their continent and the world. We do this by building teams of partners, constantly recruiting and developing transformed leaders for the world who in turn reproduce themselves in the lives of others.”

       We had over 300 leaders at our training camp in Nicaragua in January and over 150 at this camp in the DR living out this process. As they are transformed, they come alongside others and help them come to know Christ and see His transforming power in their own lives. What an impact this can have on their countries long term!

Scott with Emilio (L) and Ramon, another student staffer (R)

    EMILIO One example of what this transformation looks like is Emilio. As a teenager, Emilio came to know the Lord at a Young Life and has been involved ever since. I first met Emilio the year after he met Jesus when he was part of a work team at camp. We worked together from early morning to late at night helping make sure camp was great for the teens who were there for the first time. When we talked about his life goals then, he had one answer—baseball.  Emilio (like thousands of other Dominican boys) had played baseball his whole life and he was good. He was hoping to get signed by a major league team to be able to help provide for his Mom and his siblings. He even left camp two days early because a scout was coming to see him play. This is a common story in the DR, as 10% of the players in MLB are from this small nation (by contrast, Michigan produces less than 1.5% of the players despite a slightly larger population). Sometimes these kids make it, but many times they don't....even 95% of those who get signed never make the major leagues and most are left with little education and little in the way of life skills since they've been so focused on baseball. That could have been Emilio's story too, but it's not. Emilio never did get signed, but he did keep coming to Young Life and kept growing. He became a volunteer leader in his neighborhood and started leading other teens to Christ. Emilio couldn't afford to go to college, but he received a scholarship through a YL program and now is a student staff member in the DR. As part of the scholarship, he works part time for Young Life leading a club in his neighborhood. He's now two years into a major in business administration and is a great student leader.

        I was especially anxious to see Emilio this spring because of some terrible news from this past fall.  Emilio’s brother was out late one night with his girlfriend when two men tried to rob the restaurant they were at. In the struggle that ensued a gun went off and Emilio’s brother was shot and killed. I asked Emilio how dealing with this tragedy impacted him. He said “my family and I got the news in the middle of the night. We were so stunned; I didn’t know what to think or how to respond. Some of my Young Life friends somehow heard about it and started showing up at my house while it was still dark out….by very early the next morning, leaders had shown up from other cities just to be with me and my family. It was very hard, but I was so thankful they were there. And they’ve stayed by me every step of the way since then.” When I asked Emilio how his brother’s death impacted his walk with the Lord, he said this, “I don’t understand it, but I trust God knows what is best. It was hard for me for a time to be a leader when I felt like I was struggling so much, but I’m doing better now. I’ve realized that this is why I am a Young Life leader….so kids like my brother can come to know Christ now, since no one knows what life will bring later.” One of the Vida Joven staff members said this recently, “The Lord has given Emilio strength to be a great support for his family as they all deal with this loss. He is radiating Jesus to them during this tough time.” What a joy to see a kid like Emilio be transformed into the leader he is today: actively impacting teens, his neighborhood and his family as he radiates Jesus. Thanks for helping us train, equip and encourage leaders like him throughout Latin America, and believing in the impact they can make when they radiate Jesus.